Filling feeler



will] 29, P. A LEE ETAL FILLING FEELER Filed Dec. 2, 1953 IN VEN TOR. Perry ee Pagmondfl. Lee

ATTE] R N EYS United States Patent FILLING FEELER Perry A. Lee and Raymond H. Lee, Anderson, S. C.

Application December 2, 1953, Serial No. 395,791

2 Claims. (Cl. 139-270) This invention relates to a loom, and more particularly to a filling feeler for a loom.

The object of the invention is to provide a filling feeler which will facilitate the changing of bobbins when the bobbin is changed before the yarn thereon is exhausted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling feeler which includes a prong that extends through a slot in the feeler case whereby the filling feeler will be prevented from engaging the actuating wire or rod when the bobbin is changed before the yarn has been exhausted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filling feeler which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a plan view, showing the present invention, and with the cover removed from the housing or case, and showing a portion of a bobbin with filling engaging the feeler tip.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the position of the parts when the filling is exhausted.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modified feeler.

Figure 4 is a view taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates a portion of a conventional shuttle in which is mounted the usual bobbin 11 having yarn or filling 12 therleaon. A slot or cutout 14 is provided in the shutt e Spaced from the shuttle 10 is a case or filler housing 15 which is provided wtih a slot 16 for a purpose to be later described. The numeral 17 designates in its entirety the filling feeler, and the filling feeler 17 includes a shank 18.

The feeler 17 further includes a feeler tip 19 on one end of the shank 18, and the feeler tip 19 is adapted to engage the yarn or bobbin in the shuttle 10, Figures 1 and 2. Formed integral with the other end of the shank 18, or secured thereto is a transversely arranged arm 20. A coil spring 21 has one end connected to the arm 20, and the other end of the coil spring 21 is anchored to the housing 15 through the medium of a pin 22. A stop shoulder 23 is adapted to be engaged by the end of the arm 20, Figure 2. Extending into the housing 15 and arranged at right angles with respect to the feeler 17 is an actuating rod or wire 24.

Extending transversely from the shank 18 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith is a finger 25, and extending from the finger 25 is a prong 26, the prong 26 being arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to the shank 18. The free end of the prong 26 is pointed as at 27. A pin 28 is connected to the housing or case 15, and the pin 28 is adapted to at times extend through the space between the prong 26 and the shank 18, the pin 28 extending through the slot 16. The prong 26 is also adapted to move through the slot 16.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings there is shown a modified filling feeler which is indicated generally by the numeral 29. The filling feeler 29 is adapted to be used at times in lieu of the feeler 17, and the feeler 29 includes an elongated shank 30 that is provided with an arm 31 on one end thereof. A tip 32 is provided on the other end of the shank 30, and a finger 33 extends transversely from the shank 30. A prong 34 is adjustably connected to the finger 33, and the prong 34 is provided with a pointed end 35. Thus, a portion of the prong 34 may be threaded exteriorly as at 36, and suitable securing elements such as nuts 37 and 38 may be arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 36 for maintaining the prong 34 immobile in its various adjusted positions. Thus, the position. of the prong 34 can be adjusted as desired.

In use the feeler tip 19 enters the slot 14 in the shuttle 10 and if at such time there is sufiicient material 12 on the bobbin 11, the filling supply 12 strikes the feeler tip 19 so that the rod 24 is not moved. However, when the filling supply 12 becomes substantially exhausted, the feeler tip 19 is struck by the bobbin 11 and will slide there along to thereby move the rod 24 and movement of the rod 24 serves to initiate operation of the bobbin changing mechanism so as to control the filling replenishing mechanism of the loom.

With the present invention there is provided an additional advantage over previous filling; feelers since with the present invention the bobbin can be changed even before the yarn has become completely exhausted. Thus, with previous devices even though an attempt was made to change the bobbin before the yarn was completely exhausted, the tip 19 would often slide on the yarn and accidentally actuate the rod or wire 24 to thereby cause the bobbin to be changed. In the present invention there is provided the slot 16 in the case 15, and the pin 28 cooperates with the prong 26. Thus, when there is yam 12 on the bobbin 11 as in Figure 1, the feeler tip 19 will cause the feeler 17 to be pushed back into the casing 15 in such a manner that the prong 26 and shank 18 will straddle or receive therebetween the pin 28. Thus, the prong 26 prevents the filling feeler from engaging the wire or rod 24 to set the replenishing mechanism in motion. However, when all of the filling 12 is exhausted from the bobbin 11, the feeler will work in the same manner as the previously constructed feelers since the prong 26 is short enough to clear the pin 28 as shown in broken lines in Figure 2 so that the tip 19 will be able to slide on the empty bobbin.

The feeler 17 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is of one piece construction whereas the feeler 29 shown in Figures 3 and 4 includes the adjustable prong 34 which can be adjusted to the desired length.

We claim:

1. In combination, a filling feeler case provided with a slot, a filling feeler including a shank extending through said slot, a tip arranged on an end of said shank for engagement with a bobbin, an actuating member arranged at right angles with respect to said shank and adapted to be engaged thereby, an arm arranged transversely with respect to the inner end of said shank and extending therefrom, a coil spring having one end connected to said arm and its other end connected to said case, a pin extending from said case through said slot, a finger extending transversely from. said shank, and a prong arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said shank and extending from said finger, said pin adapted to be received between said prong and shank.

2. In combination, a filling feeler case provided with a slot, a filling feeler including a shank extending through said slot, a tip arranged on said shank for engagement with a bobbin, an actuating member arranged angularly with respect to said shank and adapted to be engaged thereby, an arm arranged transversely with respect to said shank and extending therefrom, resilient means having one end connected to said arm and its other end connected to said case, a pin extending from said case through said slot, a finger extending from said shank, a prong extending from said finger, said pin adapted to be received between said prong and shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,599,806 Brown Sept. 14, 1926 1,747,992 Simpson Feb. 18, 1930 1,747,993 Simpson Feb. 18, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 585,815 Great Britain Feb. 25, 1947 

